Betting tips: Who wins the Barclays?
The winner: Henrik Stenson
Purely a priced-based selection.
In my opinion, the Swede is playing the best golf of anyone in the world at the moment and yet he is 12/1.
Narrowly missing out on both Olympic gold and the PGA Championship, after his stunning performance at Royal Troon, it would be a huge disappointment if he didn’t give us a run for our cash at Bethpage Black.
His form in the Barclays has been middling at best – finishes of 54th, 43rd and 38th from 2012 to 2014.
But he finished runner-up to Jason Day 12 months ago, whose 63-62 weekend took him clear of everyone.
Day will attract lots of support but, at 7/1 against 12s, I prefer the extra digits on a player who will surely challenge for FedEx glory once again.
The each-way back: Dustin Johnson
It seems weird to be putting up the US Open winner as an each-way shout but you can easily get on at 10/1 and it may prove easy money.
Johnson has posted 5 top 20s in seven appearances at the Barclays and took home the trophy in 2011.
9th last year, he will be well-rested, having opted not to travel to Rio, and will be eager to get back into top gear after missing the cut at the PGA Championship.
His performance at Baltusrol, where his chance went after an opening 77, was surely an aberration – having spent most of the previous two months in continual contention.
My money is on him bouncing back.
The dark horse: Patrick Reed
After a closing 64 at the Olympics, Reed put together a couple of nice rounds last week at the Wyndham – an opening 66 and a third round 64 – suggesting the American is rounding into form just in time for the Ryder Cup.
His tied 22nd at the Wyndham was the first tournament in five he had failed to post a top 20 so it was a bit of a surprise to see him at a general 50/1 with most of the oddsmakers for the Barclays.
Although yet to win this season, Reed has put up 9 top 10s in 24 events and is in the top 10 of the FedEx rankings.
He missed the cut last year but finished 9th in 2014 – the last time we had a Ryder Cup year. I’d certainly be looking at Reed in the top 20 and top 10 markets at the very least.
READ MORE
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
